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Which earth-friendly Honda is the right option for you?

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, EV… There are many different approaches to the whole “green car” philosophy. Some manufacturers fully commit to one specific technology, but Honda decided to develop different techs at the same time. There is a green Honda ideal for your needs, you just need to figure out which one… and know how it works.

Conventional Hybrids – For the Road Tripper

“Conventional” hybrids like the Accord Hybrid are becoming more common on the streets nowadays. They don’t require any special attention (since they don’t need to be plugged-in to work) and will give you improved fuel economy. The Accord Hybrid’s new 2.0-litre engine offers improved thermal efficiency and is paired two electric drive motors to give you 212hp combined and 232 lb.-ft of torque. It’s ideal for those who are still uneasy about fully depending on electricity for their daily commute or if you need to drive long distances: you still need to buy fuel once in a while, but you get the advantages of the electric drive system around town.

Plug-in Hybrid – For the Suburbanite

The next step on the electrification ladder: the plug-in hybrids, like the Clarity. These operate similar to the conventional hybrid, but you get a larger battery and more range. You can also recharge them at charge stations or at home. For many people, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid represents the best of both worlds because you get 76 km of full-electric range and a recharge time of 2.5 hours, but you also get 212 combined horsepower and the freedom to go anywhere…as long as you can find fuel and/or an electrical outlet.

EVs – For the Downtown Dweller

EVs (or electric vehicles) are all the rage lately. Want to say goodbye to Big Petroleum? Honda’s recently revealed Urban EV Concept is slated to go on sale in Europe next year. Let’s hope it goes well, so communters in North America can get their own. EV owners must be mindful of charges, but stations are becoming more and more frequent (they can be located with this CAA map).

Fuel-Cell – For the Futurist

Finally, there are fuel-cell vehicles, which are a kind of a wild card in the green vehicle world. These vehicles use hydrogen to power a generator, which in turn drives the wheels. Hydrogen is plentiful on Earth, cheaper to make available than petrol and it doesn’t pollute when used in vehicles. On the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the only thing that exits out of the exhaust pipe is drinkable water! However, Fuel Cell vehicles suffer from a limited recharge network… and if you run out of liquid hydrogen in the middle of nowhere, you can’t exactly go to a store and buy a few litres.

2018 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

The future is clear to see. It’s just a matter of time before we are all zipping around in earth-friendly vehicles. Which one will you be driving?

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